Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has lauded the European Union (EU) support for peace and security within West Africa region and the Sahel.
She also commended the EU commitment to the multilateral system, with the UN at its core, alongside other regional organisations, especially the AU, ECOWAS, and the G5 Sahel in the maintenance of international peace and security.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey said this when EU Ambassador to Ghana, Diana Acconcia, paid a farewell call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration after her three year duty tour of Ghana came to an end.
She lauded the Ambassador for the successful organization of the annual Ghana-EU Political Dialogues, which enhanced relations between the EU and Ghana and afforded both sides the opportunity to discuss pertinent issues of mutual interest.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey also expressed appreciation for the signing of an 87- million-euro special emergency budget support financing agreement between Ghana and the EU in 2020 to assist the country in its response to the COVID-19 crisis.
She commended the EU for its funding of the COVAX facility, which made it possible for low and middle-income countries such as Ghana to benefit from the COVID-19 vaccines, in line with the EU’s commitment to ensure equitable access to the vaccines.
Touching on EU support to Ghana on the cocoa sector, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey applauded the launch of the Multi-stakeholder Dialogue on Sustainable Cocoa by the European Commission, which seeks to deliver concrete recommendations to promote sustainability across the cocoa supply chain through collective actions and partnerships.
She therefore reiterated the commitment of Ghana to collaborate with the EU and other stakeholders to attain a sustainable cocoa production that promotes good forest cover, eliminates child labour as well as secure the socio-economic well-being of cocoa farmers.
Story: Henry George Martinson@radiogoldlive.com
